Curry-comb



-(No Model.)

A. C. RULOFSON.

GURRYGOMB.

No. 472,550. 112161116111111. 12, 1892.l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED C. RULOFSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

o u R RY- c o M B.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,550, dated April 12, 1892.

` Application tiled July 7, 1891. Serial No. 398,712. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED C. RULoFsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, haveinven ted certain new and useful Improvements in Curry-Combs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flexible backs for curry-combs by which I produce a back that Will not curl up or buckle and will maintain a uniform degree or character of flexibility and that will remain permanently elastic under all conditions of use, and one that can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

To such ends and objects my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims. A

The drawings which form part of this specification represent a curry-comb with a back constructed according to my invention.

Figure l is a perspective view of the comb, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the comb. Fig. 3 is across-section through a back composed of two layers of flexible material with the elastic metal strips inserted between them.

A indicates the back, formed of flexible material; B, a strip of elastic metal having the qualities of spring metal; C, the handle, and D the teeth-plates.

For the back A, I use leather out to size either of single thickness, as illustrated in Fig. 1, or of double thickness, as shown in Fig. 3. The teeth-plates are fastened tothe under side by rivets d d, and the handle is secured to the back by a plate CX, having ears or flanges for rivets. Across the back, and preferably on the top, I tix the strip of elastic metal by attaching one end to the leather by a rivet and letting the other end under the plate CX, not fastening it to the back, but leaving suitable play of the strip under the plate. This is the simplest mode of applying the spring when theback is formed of a single piece of leather, and in most cases a single broad spring will be found sufficient; but in constructing a back out of layers of thinner material the spring can be placed to advantage between the layers, and in such case the same fastenings that fix the combs place of a flat spring I find it convenient in some cases to make them of round metal or spring-Wire. Vhere the spring is inserted between the layers of fiexible material the ends are not fixed to the material, as a certain amount of longitudinal play in the springmust be allowed in order that the spring may accommodate itself to the flexure of the back when the comb is curved or bent in the hand.

The advantage of constructing the back out of layers of thin material is that cheaper material can be utilized for the purpose, while the desired qualities of permanent elasticity are secured by the combination of the elastic metal with the leather.

It should be mentioned that sheet-rubber or rubber cloth having about the same degree of liexibility as leather might be used instead of leather.

A curry-comb back constructed in this manner will be found to retain a regular degree of flexibility and will not lose that degree or character of stiffness which is essential in flexible-back combs, While it can be produced at extremely low cost.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i Y l. In a curry-comb, a back formed of flexible material, having the teeth-plates applied to its face and a handle set at right angles to the teeth-plates, in combination with a flexible strip of metal applied to said back in line with the handle and transversely to the teethplates, .as set forth.

2. In a curry-comb, the combination of a back composed of two thicknesses of Ilexible material, having teeth-plates on its face and a strip of flexible metal laid unattached between the thicknesses of the back at right angles to the teeth-plates, as set forth.

l In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

ALFRED C. RULOFSON. LL. s]

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsBoEN, CHAs. E. KELLY. 

